Satellite Dishes

Generally, satellite dishes should be as inconspicuous as possible, preferably on the rear or side elevations of houses/shops, and not on chimneys. You must obtain the consent of the Heritage Foundation to put dishes of any size on front elevations or prominent side walls or roofs. Provided that the dish is less than 90 cm in diameter and sited below eaves level the District Council's planning permission will not be required, but if you live in the Conservation Areas you will need planning permission for any dish on a house/shop wall facing the road or any other public open space. If you live in a Listed Building you will need local authority consent for a dish, whatever its size or whether you propose to site it on the building. Now that cabling has been installed in many areas of Letchworth, it is hoped that owners will opt for this rather than satellite dishes.

Updated Guidance

The above guidance is contained in the Design Guide, last published in 1999. It has recently been reviewed, and the updated guidance is set out below. It remains the case that, as satellite dishes affect the appearance of a property, the permission of the Foundation will often be required for their installation. Dishes should always be as inconspicuous as possible, preferably on the rear or the side of a house. They will not be acceptable on the front wall or prominent side wall of a house/shop, for example, a corner house or corner shop. However, we understand that this may be the only direction from which a signal can be picked up. If this is the case, dishes may be permitted on the rear roof slope or on the base of chimneys, in order to receive the signal. In all cases, dishes should be coloured appropriately, depending on the circumstances, to help them blend in more successfully with the host building.

They should also be limited to 90cm diameter whenever they can be seen from a public highway or other public open space, and they should be removed when no longer in use. For more than one property, such as blocks of flats, one communal dish should be used to ensure that the impact on the appearance of the building is minimised. You should always check with the District Council whether their consent is also required.

For commercial premises or flats above shops a deposit of £100 is held by the Heritage Foundation. If the dish is not removed when the property is vacated then the deposit will be used to cover the cost of its removal and any making good. If the dish is removed then the deposit will be returned.